Device for locking uni-cortical pins

ABSTRACT

A device (10) for locking unicortical pins, comprising: a pin-locking arm (101) provided with two seats (101a, 101b) suitable for locking a corresponding number of unicortical pins (100); and a connection base (102), intended to couple with a connecting body (11) of an anchoring group (20) for an external fixator (1), locking means (103) configured to act simultaneously on the seats (101a, 101b), locking in position two unicortical pins (100) inserted therein, wherein said locking means (103) comprise deformable spheres (103a, 103b) which are passed through by an insertion channel (1031) for the unicortical pins (100), and a pressure plate (103c) acting on the seats (101a, 101b) for compress both said deformable spheres (103a, 103b) locking in position the unicortical pins (100) inserted in the respective insertion channels (1031).

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention is applicable in the field of orthopaedic surgery and relates in particular to a device for locking bone screws, particularly suitable for the fixation of unicortical pins.

The invention also relates to an anchoring group comprising the aforementioned pin-locking device articulated to a locking clamp of an external fixator bar, as well as to an external fixator comprising said anchoring group.

PRIOR ART

External fixators are widely used for the treatment of bone fractures or for joining together two or more bone fragments. Known fixators comprise bone screws which are inserted in the bones and use external devices such as fixation clamps, fixation bars, rings, etc., that allow the creation of a rigid structure able to hold together the bone fragments in the desired position until completely healed.

These external fixators have the advantage of ensuring strength and stability owing, among other things, to the use of bone screws which penetrate into the bones at a sufficient depth; in particular, these screws pass through the bone cortex in two points so as to provide a flexurally resistant fastening.

However, the use of bi-cortical screws may be excessively invasive for patients in critical conditions, who for example have multiple fractures along with, in some case, extensive wounds and/or contusions. In particular the time devoted to checking the tip which emerges from the second cortex may be critical.

Also, with particular reference to the reduction of fractures in long bones, the aforementioned bi-cortical screws pass through the medullary cavity, which makes it impossible to simultaneously insert a medullary nail, which is particularly suitable for the treatment of certain types of trauma.

Moreover, the surgical implant of a definitive fixator of the aforementioned type requires time and suitable facilities and is not always compatible with the unforeseen circumstances where rapid intervention is required; for example, it is relatively difficult to perform the implant of such an external fixator in the context of a field hospital or in any case under environmental conditions where sterility is not guaranteed and where the fracture must be treated as a matter of emergency.

In order to meet these specific needs, external fixators of a provisional nature have been developed that, in addition to having a structure which is generally slimmer and lighter, use unicortical screws or unicortical pins for the attachment to the bone, i.e. that have been designed to be screwed in superficially so that they are attached to a single bone cortex only.

The unicortical pin undoubtedly represents a less invasive fixation system than conventional bone screws; moreover, owing to its limited penetration, the pin does not reach the medullary cavity of the bone, thus avoiding the risk of unwanted infections.

On the other hand, however, owing to its limited stability—due mainly to the fact that it passes through one cortex only, which means that flexural strength is limited—this type of screw is not widely used in external fixation applications.

It would instead be desirable to be able to use an external fixator, which has the advantages of stability and strength typical of provisional fixation systems, and to combine it with the advantages of ease of application, lightness and limited invasiveness that are instead typical of systems that use unicortical pins.

The technical problem forming the basis of the present invention is therefore to devise a locking device for unicortical pins to be associated with external fixators, which is able to create a structure sufficiently rigid for it to withstand the external loads acting on it, so as to allow the formation of external fixators that are extremely flexible, but that at the same time have that degree of structural rigidity that typically distinguishes external fixation systems.

The device should have an optimum performance, under traction and compression, of the tip in the cortex of the bone and should eliminate, as far as possible, the flexural stresses acting on the shank of the single screw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned technical problem is solved by a locking device for unicortical pins according to claim 1.

The technical problem is also solved by an anchoring group comprising the aforementioned locking device, in accordance with what is described in claim 6, as well as by an external fixator comprising the anchoring group, according to what is stated in claim 7.

Owing to its form characteristics the locking device described above may be advantageously used on external fixators which ensures exceptional stability, in spite of the use of only unicortical pins. In fact the device makes it possible to implant two unicortical pins on a plane axially offset with respect to the longitudinal plane of the fixator to which it is attached, while, by using a similar device attached to the opposite side of the anchoring group of the external fixator, it is possible to obtain a closed reticular structure which provides the device with the sought-after flexural and torsional stability.

Further features and advantages will become clearer from the detailed description provided below of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures provided by way of non-limiting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 show different perspective views of an external fixator according to the present invention associated with the long bone of a patient, where the locking devices of the distal and proximal anchoring groups are mounted in different configurations;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an anchoring group according to the present invention associated with the bone of a patient;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the anchoring group of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show two perspective views of an anchoring group according to the present invention, in which mounting of the locking devices in two different configurations is shown;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a connecting body of the anchoring group according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the connecting body of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a further perspective view of the connecting body of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the locking clamp of the anchoring group according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the main body of a locking device according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows another perspective view of the main body of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the pressing body of the locking device according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the locking means of the locking device according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a deformable sphere forming part of the locking means shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of a bar/pin clamp which can be associated with the connection bar of the external fixator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the attached figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, the reference number 1 denotes overall an external fixator according to the present invention, designed in particular to be joined to a long bone of a patient using only unicortical pins or screws 100.

The external fixator comprises in particular a bar 2, known per se, which is fixed to the bone by means of two anchoring groups 20 respectively arranged in a distal position and proximal position.

Each of the anchoring groups 20 comprises two locking devices 10, each of which is designed to lock in position two unicortical pins 100 which are implanted in the bone of the patient. The two locking devices 10 extend laterally, in the manner of wings, from a central connecting body 11 of the anchoring group which also supports a locking clamp 3 designed to grip the bar of the external fixator 1.

In a preferred embodiment, shown in the present drawings, the locking devices 10 are made as modular elements which can be mounted separately on the connecting body 11; nevertheless, it is possible to envisage alternative embodiments in which the entire anchoring group 20 is formed as one piece, while retaining the particularly advantageous form and functional characteristics described below.

The single locking device 10 has a substantially L-shaped main body, namely a pin-locking arm 101 and a connection base 102 which together form an elbow. The angle α between the direction of extension of the arm x and the direction of extension of the base y, shown in FIG. 13, is preferably an angle that is substantially greater than a right angle, namely between 120° and 150°. It may be noted that the pin-locking arm 101 and the connection base 102 extend along a same plane of orientation P₁ of the locking device 10.

The pin-locking arm 101 has at its two opposite ends two seats 101 a, 101 b which are designed to lock a corresponding number of unicortical pins 100. This locking action is performed by the locking means 103 described below.

The locking means 103 comprise, in particular, two deformable spheres 103 a, 103 b, one of which is shown separately in FIG. 17, which are provided with a diametral insertion channel 1031 that defines the actual seat 101 a, 101 b for the unicortical pins 100. The deformable spheres have a plurality of incisions that cross the sphere in a planar manner passing through the insertion channel 1031; the incisions lead alternately into one or the other of two opposite openings of the insertion channel 1031. Because of the incisions the sphere becomes deformed when it is compressed along the axis of the insertion channel, so that the insertion channel 1031 is constricted locally, by which the unicortical pin 100 housed therein will be locked.

The aforementioned deformable spheres 103 a, 103 b are housed between an elongated impression 101 c, formed along the upper surface of the pin-locking arm 101, and a pressure plate 103 c shaped to counter the opposite impression 101 c. In particular, both the pressure plate 103 c and the impression 101 c have smooth through-holes 1011 at their ends; the two deformable spheres 103 are locked between two smooth through-holes 1011 situated opposite each other. The insertion channel 1031 of the spheres 103 is accessible via the smooth through-holes 1011 so as to allow the introduction of the unicortical pin 100.

The pressure plate 103 c is connected to the impression via tightening means 103 d which in particular take the form of a screw. The shank of the screw is inserted into a central through-hole 1010 a of the pressure plate and then into an opposite central hole 1010 b formed in the bottom of the impression 101 c, on the outside of which it engages with a nut. Resilient setting means 103 e are also arranged between the pressure plate 103 c and the impression 101 c, which are formed in particular by two helical springs that are compressed between the two elements and retained inside oppositely arranged depressions 1012 of the impression 101 c and the pressure plate 103 c.

The springs, arranged in an intermediate position between the deformable spheres 103 and the screw, oppose the tightening action of the latter, thus allowing the deformable spheres 103 to be deformed and the unicortical pins 100 to be locked inside them.

By driving the screw 103 d, the pressure plate 103 c simultaneously compress both the deformable spheres 103 a, 103 b locking in position the unicortical pins 100 inserted in the respective insertion channels 1031.

It should be noted that when the compression plate is not clamped, the deformable spheres 103 are rotatable inside their seat, such that the surgeon may modify as required the orientation of the inserted unicortical pins 100. Tightening the head of the screw 103 d eliminates this degree of rotational freedom.

The deformable spheres 103 have, in one of the openings of the insertion channel 1031, a raised cylindrical edge 1032 which, once inserted inside the smooth through-hole 1011, limits the rotational movement of the element, while always allowing access to the insertion channel 1031.

In a preferred embodiment, the deformable spheres 103 allow the direction of the unicortical pins 100 to be varied with respect to the axis perpendicular to the plane of orientation P₁ by about 20°.

The connection base 102 has at its free end a fastening point 102 a suitable for connection to the connecting body 11.

Moreover, the connecting body 11 has, on both sides, two alternative fastening seats 110 a, 110 b for the connection of the fastening point 102 a.

The fastening point 102 of the locking device 10 presents an enlarged portion through which a fastening hole 102 c passes and, on the opposite side of the enlarged portion, a projecting tenon 102 b; on the other hand, the fastening seats 110 a, 110 b present a depression or mortise 110 c shaped to match the tenon 102 b, and a fastening hole 110 d formed in the bottom of the mortise 110 c.

When the tenon 102 b is correctly inserted into the mortise 110 c of one of the fastening seats 110 a, 110 b, the two fastening holes 102 c, 110 d are aligned so that a threaded connection element 104 that fixes the locking device 10 to the connecting body 11 may pass through them.

The connecting body 11 has a structure that is substantially symmetrical with respect to its median plane M. Said connecting body 11 has a cusp portion 111 at the front with opposite inclined surfaces that are symmetrical with respect to said median plane M, and at the rear a hinge portion 112, which will be described below.

Both the inclined surfaces of the cusp portion 111 have a top section with an inclination greater than the horizontal and a bottom section with a smaller inclination. The first fastening seat 110 a is formed on the first section and the second fastening seat 110 b is formed on the second section. Thus, depending on whether the locking device 10 is connected to the first fastening seat 110 a or to the second fastening seat 110 b, two different inclinations of the plane of orientation P₁ with respect to the median-plane M can be obtained. Consequently, also the inclination of the preferential plane of orientation P₂ of the unicortical pins 100 is modified i.e. the plane on which the pins lie, with due allowance for any adjustments performed by means of the deformable spheres 103 a, 103 b.

The inclination imparted to the fastening seats 110 a, 110 b in the present invention is such that, by associating both locking devices 10 with the respective first seat 110 a, an angle between the two planes of orientation P₁ is created that is smaller than a right angle; on the other hand, by associating the locking devices 10 with the second seat 110 b, an angle between the two planes of orientation P₁ is obtained that is greater than a right angle. The first configuration is particularly suitable for small-size bones (for example ideal for tibial mounting), while the second configuration is suitable for large-size limbs (for example suitable for femoral mounting).

The hinge portion 112 of the connecting body 11 allows articulation, around an axis of rotation r₁ perpendicular to the median plane M, of a locking clamp 3.

The hinge portion 112 defines in particular a cylindrical seat 1120 intended to define interiorly an articulation hinge 33 of the locking clamp 3. A threaded element, with a shank which defines the pin 33 a of the hinge 33 and a head which acts as a cover for the cylindrical seat 1120, is in fact screwed laterally into the cylindrical seat 1120. A shank 30 of the locking clamp 3, which comprises an eyelet end 30 a which embraces the aforementioned pin 33 a, is also inserted, via an upper groove 1121, inside the cylindrical seat 1120.

Outside of the cylindrical seat, the shank 30 passes through, in succession, an intermediate element 34, slidably movable along an outer cylindrical surface of the hinge portion 112, and two jaws 32 designed to grip in a known manner the bar 2 of the external fixator. A splined coupling IM is formed between the bottom jaw 32 and the intermediate element 34 that ensures restriction of rotation when the two parts are clamped against each other. The free end of the shank 30 is threaded and a lock nut 31 is screwed onto it.

When the abovementioned group is not clamped, adjustments both around the axis of rotation r₁ of the hinge and around the axis r₂ of the shank 30 are possible. Tightening the lock nut 31 causes the entire group to be pressed together and performs the triple function of locking the bar 2 between the jaws of the clamp 3 and blocking the two abovementioned rotational axes. In particular, the axis of rotation r₁ is blocked by the friction between the intermediate element 34 and the outer cylindrical surface of the hinge portion 112, and the axis of rotation r₂ is blocked by the locking action of the splined coupling IM.

Having described individually the single elements which make up the anchoring groups 20 of the external fixator 1, we shall now describe the different possibilities of assembling them in order to obtain different configurations of the said fixator.

First of all, it is pointed out that the locking devices 10 according to the present invention may be constructed in two configurations which are a mirror image of each other, namely a configuration oriented to the right of the connection base 102 and a configuration oriented to the left of the connection base 102.

The external fixator 1, which by nature is modular, comprises both right-hand and left-hand locking devices 10 which may be used alternatively by the surgeon in the field depending on the actual operating requirements.

Thus, depending on the locking devices chosen, each anchoring group 20 may be mounted in three different configurations: a U configuration, in which the two locking devices 10 are both oriented in the same direction, away from the locking clamp 3 of the anchoring group 20; an M configuration, in which the two locking devices 10 are both oriented in the direction of the locking clamp 3 of the anchoring group 20; and an S configuration, in which the locking devices 10 are oriented in opposite directions.

With reference to the enclosed figures: FIG. 1 shows an external fixator 1 in which both anchoring groups 20 have a U configuration; in FIG. 2 both anchoring groups 20 have an S configuration; in FIGS. 3 and 4 the proximal mounting group 20 has a U configuration and the distal group has an M configuration, i.e. in a position where the pin-locking arms 101 point in a distal direction and proximal direction, respectively.

The various configurations described above may be used alternatively by the surgeon, depending on the specific operating requirements and the morphology of the fractured bone. In particular, with the S configuration two unicortical pins 100 may be arranged in the vicinity of the fracture site, thereby increasing stability. It is a known fact that the relative spacing of the screws improves the stability of an external fixator 1.

In the case where additional stability is required, further unicortical pins 100 may be added, being directly fixed to the bar 2 by means of one or more bar/pin clamps 4 of the type known in the art.

A method for applying an external fixator 1 according to the present invention is described below, said method comprising the following steps:

preparing the first anchoring group 20, for example the distal anchoring group of the type described above, where necessary mounting it in the configuration most suitable for the intervention according to the modes described above;

inserting unicortical pins 100 in at least three of the seats 101 a, 101 b (but preferably all four of them) of the two pin-locking devices 101 of the anchoring group 20;

fixing the unicortical pins 100 to the long bone of the patient, rotating them by means of a special instrument, using the seats 101 a, 101 b as boring guides;

locking said unicortical pins 100 inside the seats 101 a, 101 b using the special locking means 103 described above.

It should be noted that before fixing the unicortical pins 100 to the bone, they may be oriented by rotating the deformable sphere 103 a, 103 b in which they are inserted and then locking them in position by tightening the aforementioned locking means 103.

It should in particular be noted how the unicortical pins have a self-tapping tip so that it is sufficient to rotate them by means of a light pressure, associating their head with a drilling device in order to create the fixation hole in the patient's bone, whereby said hole can only penetrate the first cortex.

The steps described above may then be repeated in order to fix a second anchoring group 20, for example the proximal anchoring group; following which, by performing the adjustments along the axes r₁ and r₂ of the locking clamps 3 of the two anchoring groups 20, they are aligned and connected to the bar 2.

As previously mentioned, in order to improve the stability of the external fixator, further unicortical pins 100, preferably two in number, may be used, associating them directly to the bar 2 by means of bar/pin clamps 4.

It should be noted that, during mounting of the anchoring groups, owing to the L-shaped form of the locking device 10, X-ray access to the bone site concerned in the intervention is never obstructed by the structure of the anchoring groups, so that the various parts which make up the group need not necessarily be made of radiotransparent material.

It should also be noted that the non-invasive form of the anchoring group 20, in particular in its U configuration with the opening directed towards the bone end, allows easy access of an instrument for reaming the long bone of the patient and subsequently inserting an intramedullary nail, even when the anchoring group is positioned at the point where the nail end is inserted.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy any specific requirements which arise, may make numerous modifications and variations to the devices described above, all of which are however contained within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A locking device for locking unicortical pins, comprising: a pin-locking arm provided with two seats suitable for locking a corresponding number of unicortical pins; and a connection base, intended to couple with a connecting body of an anchoring group for an external fixator, locking means configured to act simultaneously on the seats, locking in position two unicortical pins inserted therein, wherein said locking means comprise deformable spheres which are passed through by an insertion channel for the unicortical pins, and a pressure plate acting on the seats for compressing both said deformable spheres locking in position the unicortical pins inserted in the respective insertion channels; wherein said deformable spheres are arranged between an impression of the pin-locking arm and the pressure plate, said locking means further comprising tightening means designed to generate an action force for tightening the pressure plate against the pin-locking arm, said action force being directed axially with respect to said insertion channel of said deformable spheres, for locking in position said two unicortical pins inserted therein; wherein said locking means further comprise at least one resilient setting element arranged between the impression and the pressure plate and intended to oppose the action of the tightening means.
 2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the deformability of said spheres is ensured by incisions alternately connected to the two opposite ends of the insertion channel.
 3. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein said deformable spheres are rotatably movable with respect to the pin-locking arm, compression of said deformable spheres by means of the pressure plate locking their orientation with respect to the pin-locking arm.
 4. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein said resilient setting element comprises two helical springs that are compressed between the impression and the pressure plate, and retained inside oppositely arranged depressions of the impression and the pressure plate.
 5. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein said pin-locking arm extends along a first axis and said connection base extends along a second axis, the first and the second axes forming an angle greater than a right angle.
 6. An anchoring group for an external fixator, comprising: a connecting body designed to be coupled to a bar of an external fixator, said connecting body being crossed by a median plane; a first locking device and a second locking device, said first and second locking devices being each according to claim 1 and extending from a different side of said median plane wherein the connecting body has at least two fastening seats for each of the first and the second locking devices so as to allow at least two alternative mounting configurations from each side with respect to the median plane of the connecting body.
 7. An external fixator for the fixation of long bones, comprising a distal anchoring group and a proximal anchoring group connected by a bar, at least one of the distal anchoring group and the proximal anchoring group being an anchoring group according to claim
 6. 8. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient setting element is arranged in an intermediate position between the deformable spheres and the tightening means. 